Cigarette box



D. B. KENNARD CIGARETTE BOX Dec. 12, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 6. 1960 BY F p ATTORNEY Dec. 12, 1961 D. B. KENNARD CIGARETTE BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 6, 1960 ATTORNEY Unite States Patent Office 3,012,661 Patented Dec. 12, 1961 3,012,661 CIGARETTE BOX Doris B. Kennard, 236 th Ave. N., St. Petershurg, Fla. Filed July 6, 1960, Ser. No. 41,198 1 Claim. (Cl. 206-48) The present invention relates to a new and improved cigarette box of the well known crush proof type including a lid or cover attached thereto and disposed inside the box when the lid is in its closed position.

The principal object of my invention is the provision of an improved box for cigarettes, or the like, comprising a relatively rigid rectangular box open at the top and adapted to be closed by a hinged cover or lid including a flap for securing the lid in its closed position by inserting the flap between a wall of the box and the cigarettes in the box, the flap having a pad of matches, including a striker member, attached thereto so that when the flap is inserted into the box, the matches and striker are dis posed inside the box and thereby protected from moisture. Preferably, the match pad and striker are attached to the flap so that the matches and striker provide a stiffener to facilitate insertion of the flap into the box.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a box for cigarettes, or the like, of the character described in which the striker for the matches is attached to the cover flap and is well within the box when the cover is closed on the box, thereby protecting the striker and matches against moisture. Preferably, the striker is located on the side of the flap opposite that on which the matches are carried so that sparks from striking a match will not fly on to the live matches.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of an improved box of the character mentioned in which the flap of the lid is hinged thereto so that the match pad and striker can be manipulated free of the cover proper for ready access to and striking of the matches.

The invention can be readily adapted to conventional crush resistant or crush proof cigarette boxes or containers without appreciably altering the normal size thereof.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptions of two forms of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an improved box embodying the invention and containing cigarettes, part of the box being shown broken away;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the box shown in FIG. 1 showing the cover in an opened position;

FIG. 3 is a side view in elevation of the box shown in FIG. 1 and showing the cover in still another position;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional View of the improved box showing the cover in a position for insertion into the box, certain parts thereof being shown exaggerated for sake of clarity;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second form of ciga rette box embodying the invention;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the box shown in FIG. 5, but showing the flap of the cover in a different position;

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the box showing the cover in a partially closed position, certain parts of the drawings being shown exaggerated for sake of clarity; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 7, but showing the cover in its closing position.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, my invention comprises a box 10 which is preferably formed of a suitable cardboard or other suitable stitf paper-like material appropriately cut, folded and secured together to form a rectangular box closed at the bottom and open at the top and of a size to contain twenty longitudinally arranged cigarettes in three rows,

as in conventional. The side edges 11 and 12 slope downwardly and forwardly, as shown, and a U-shape liner is inserted in the box which provides side panels 13 and 14 which extend substantially level with the rear edge 15 of the box opening. The form of the box described thus far is conventional in the cigarette trade and is usually referred to as a crush proof box.

In the present form of the invention, the top of the box is closeable by a lid or cover 1'8 comprising an extension of the rear wall -19 of box 10, and which is folded rearwardly along top edge 15 of the box. The cover has fold lines 21 and 22 which provide a back panel 23, top panel 24 and front panel 25, which form an extension of the rear wall of box 10, a top wall for the box and an upper front wall portion of the box when the cover is closed, as seen in FIG. 1. Tabs 27 and 28 are formed on opposite ends of panel 23 and are folded upwardly, as viewed in FIG. 2, to provide side panels which form continuations of the sides of box 10, as seen in FIG. 1. Edges 27a and 28a of tabs 27 and 28 are cut on an approximate angle to lie along the sloping side edges of box 10, as seen in FIG. 1.

The outer portion of panel 25 is slightly tapered or narrowed to form a flap 29 which is extended inside the box, downwardly between the front wall thereof and cigarettes, as viewed in FIG. 1, which shows the cover in its closed position, and a book or pad of matches 30, including a striker 31, are secured to the flap by any suitable means, such as by staples or an adhesive. The pad of matches is a well known type, comprising a cardboard strip having individual match sticks 32 cut therefrom and extending from an end portion of the strip, the outer ends or heads 35 of the matches being of the usual safety match type. The striker is formed on a paper strip 33 folded about the base end of the match pad and the outer end edge of flap 29, the striker material being disposed on the outside of the flap so the unused matches will be shielded by the flap when a match is struck.

In the form of the invention shown matches 32 provide a stiffening for flap 29, as the flap is inserted into a box. This is illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein it is seen that the heads of matches 35 engage the underside of top panel 24 as flap 29 is inserted into the box opening, and as the top panel is pressed downwardly matches 32 force the leading edge of the flap, which is reenforced by the match pad base and striker, downwardly inside the box between the cigarettes and front wall of the box 10. As cigarettes are removed from the box and the number of matches de creases, however, the need for stifiening of flap 29 decreases as there will be more space inside the box to accommodate the flap. In any event, the base of the match pad and the striker provide a stiffening element which facilitates insertion and closing of the box cover. It will be seen that when the cover is in its closing position the matches and striker as well as the box are completely protected from moisture and are always available for troublefree lights.

In use, the cover is opened to the position shown in 1 FIG. 3, which disposes the matches in a convenient position for use. A box, when initially packed by the manufacturer, is preferably in the usual water tight cellophane wrapper so that it is impossible for moisture to affect the matches, striker, or cigarettes, and the purchaser of the cigarettes is provided with a never-failing and convenient source of flame for igniting the cigarettes. The matches and striker are not only readily available and convenient for use, but are easily maintained dry at all times and afford a structure for facilitating complete closure of the box by their use.

Referring to the form of the invention shown in FIG. 5, a cigarette box 50 is provided which may be formed of material similar to that of box 10, and in general the construction is of the same conventional form, having a closed bottom and open top, the opposite sides of the box proper sloping toward the front. A U-shaped cardboard filler may be inserted in box 50 to provide side walls which project slightly above the rear edge of the box, but for sake of clarity, the filler is not shown.

The top of box 50 is arranged to be closed by a lid or cover 52, which is formed by a continuation of the rear wall 50e of the box, and which has a fold or hinge line 53 at the top edge of the box opening, and spaced fold lines 54, 55 and 56 which define, respectively, panel portions 57, 58 and 59. Panel 59 has tabs 60, 61 formed at opposite ends thereof which are folded forwardly, as seen in FIGS. and 6, and are secured to panel 58 by turned in portions 62, 63 glued to the panel. The upper edges of tabs 60 and 61, as viewed in FIGS. 5 and 6, slope forwardly and downwardly to correspond to the slope of edges 50b and 500, when cover 52 is swung forward over the top of the box as shown in FIG. 8, so that these respective edge portions abut one another when the lid is in its closing position. The outer portion of the strip forming cover 52 provides a flap 65 which is extended inside the box downwardly along the forward wall of the box and between this wall and the cigarettes in the box.

A pad of matches 66, similar to match pad 30, together with striker, is attached to the inside of flap 65 in the manner described above, relative to flap 29 of the box described hereinbefore, and a striker element 67 is provided on the outside of the flap. When lid 52 is to be closed, flap 65 is inserted between the first row of cigarettes and the inside of the front wall of the box, as seen in FIG. 7, and then by pressing on the top of panel 58, the upper ends of the matches of pad 66 are engaged by the panel and transmit the pressure to the lower, leading edge of the flap to cause insertion of the flap to its lowermost securing position. As in the first form of the invention described, the match heads and striker are well within the box and are completely pro tected from moisture so that they are at all times operable. When the cigarettes are initially packaged, a waterproof cover, such as cellophane, seals the box against moisture, and after the box is once opened, the matches are still amply protected, absolute moisture proofing being unnecessary due to the short period in which the box is generally used after opening thereof.

When the lid is opened, flap is folded rearwardly along told 56, as seen in FIG. 6, to fully expose the pad of matches for easy access thereto.

It will be seen that by my invention, I have provided a novel and useful invention readily adaptable to existing types of cigarette boxes and the like, which affords a supply of matches and striker maintained dry and in a convenient form for use. While I have described but two forms of embodiments of the invention, other modifications, adaptations and forms may be employed, all falling within the scope of the claim which follows.

I claim:

A container for cigarettes or the like comprising a rectangular box of paper-like material and open at the top, a cover for said open top including a strip of paperlike material hinged at one end along the top rear edge of said open top and having a first panel portion adjacent to said hinge for forming an upper extension of the rear wall of said box, a second panel adjoining said first panel and adapted to form a top wall of said box when said cover is closed, a third panel adjoining said second panel and disposed at right angles thereto and adapted to form an upper portion of the front wall of said box when said cover is closed, tab members attached to the ends of said second and third panels and separate from said first panel and extending at right angles thereto to form upper side portions of said box when said cover is closed, and a book of matches and striker attached to the outer end of said strip and extending along the inner side of said strip when said strip is inserted alongside said front wall whereby said matches and striker lie inside said box when said cover closes said box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,295,110 Harkleroad Sept. 8, 1942 2,894,619 Gallo July 14, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,953 Switzerland Dec. 26, 1900 525,273 Great Britain Aug. 26, 1940 695,791 France Oct. 6, 1930 

